Career

2001–04: Career beginnings

In November 2001, Blunt made her professional debut opposite Judi Dench in Sir Peter Hall's production of the play The Royal Family, in which she played the role of the granddaughter Gwen to Dench's Fanny Cavendish. Critic Tom Keatinge hailed the production, writing that "Peter Hall's direction and Anthony Ward's tremendous set combine with all this to make The Royal Family a terrific night's entertainment," and that "More importantly though, it provides a vehicle for acting of the finest quality, with strong performances from the whole ensemble..."[19] For her performance, Blunt was named "Best Newcomer" by The Evening Standard. She went on to perform as Eugenie in Nicholas Wright's Vincent in Brixton at the National Theatre, and as Juliet in Indhu Rubasingham's production of Romeo and Juliet at Chichester Festival Theatre, both in 2002.[18] In 2003, Blunt made her screen debut in the British television drama Boudica, about the life of the ancient Celtic warrior-queen who fought the Romans. That same year, she was praised for her performance as the 16th-century queen Catherine Howard in the two-part British television drama Henry VIII.[18]

In 2004, Blunt received considerable attention for her performance as Tamsin in the independent British drama My Summer of Love, a love story revolving around two young women from different social and economic backgrounds in the English countryside.[18] Director Pawel Pawlikowski was highly appraisal of Blunt and co-star Natalie Press, stating in an interview that "Both Natalie and Emily were extremely different and very original, which is a rare thing nowadays. They avoid the obvious, and are capable of playing complex and conflicting attitudes. Above all, they had energy, which is key for a movie."[20]James Berardinelli of ReelViews praised the film, calling it a "gem" lost in the "hype" of Hollywood blockbusters, and noted that "Both Natalie Press and Emily Blunt [...] are superlative. They nail their cinematic alter-egos effortlessly, using verbal and non-verbal cues to tap into their emotions. They understand their characters and use their talents to bring them to life."[21] She shared the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer with Press.[22]

Blunt's profile continued to rise, and in 2007, she appeared in four films: the horror film Wind Chill, the romantic drama The Jane Austen Book Club, the comedy Dan in Real Life, and the historical comedy-drama Charlie Wilson's War, and in the latter, Blunt played one of the mistresses of Tom Hanks' Charlie Wilson.[18] In 2008, Blunt appeared in two films, Sunshine Cleaning in the role of Norah Lorkowski, an underachiever who starts a crime-scene cleanup business with her sister Rose, played by Amy Adams. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008, where it received positive reviews, particularly for Adams' and Blunt's performances. Peter Travers of Rolling Stones magazine commented "This funny and touching movie depends on two can-do actresses to scrub past the biohazard of noxious clichés that threaten to intrude. Adams and Blunt get the job done."[28] A.O. Scott of The New York Times agreed, stating "Amy Adams and Emily Blunt [...] attack their roles with vivacity and dedication..."[29] She then starred in The Great Buck Howard as Valerie Brennan, which premiered at the same festival.[18]

2012–present: Widespread recognition

In 2012, Blunt starred in the comedy The Five-Year Engagement, directed by Nicholas Stoller and co-starring Jason Segel, in which she and Segel played a couple whose relationship becomes strained when their engagement is continually extended. The film earned positive reviews, with Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News remarking that "Blunt has never been more relaxed, and she and Segel have a believably warm chemistry."[41] She then starred in Looper, a neo-noir science-fiction thriller directed by Rian Johnson and co-starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Blunt played Sara, a tough farm woman and single mother, who aids and falls in love with Gordon-Levitt's character. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it served as the opening film, and earned highly positive feedback. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter credited Blunt for "effectively [revealing] Sara's tough and vulnerable sides."[42] Also that year, she starred in the comedy-drama Arthur Newman with Colin Firth, as the troubled Charlotte, who is trying to run away from her past.[43] The film received generally mixed to negative reviews.[44][45]

In 2014, Blunt starred opposite Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow, a film adaptation of the Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill, written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.[46] Blunt played Rita Vrataski, a Special Forces warrior tasked with training a public relations officer, played by Cruise, to defeat invading extraterrestrials. Blunt trained three months for her role, "focusing on everything from weights to sprints to yoga, aerial wire work and gymnastics", and studying Krav Maga.[47] The film was commercially successful, grossing $370,541,256,[48] and it earned positive reviews. Many critics took note of the atypically dominating role portrayed by Blunt, and Justin Chang of Variety noted that "Blunt is alert, energized and emotionally present in a none-too-taxing role."[49] For her performance, Blunt won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in an Action Film.[50]

In 2015, Blunt starred in the actioncrime-thrillerSicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve and co-starring Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin. Blunt played Kate Macer, a principled FBI agent assigned to take down the leader of a powerful Mexican drug cartel. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. Blunt received considerable praise for her performance, with Dan Jolin of Empire magazine calling it "nuanced", and stating that "Her straight-arrow-sharp determination becomes painfully dulled,"[58] and while Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian found her character implausible, he praised Blunt for "[brazening] out any possible absurdity with great acting focus and front."[59] She came 98th in FHM's Sexiest Women of 2015.[60]

In November 2008, Blunt began dating American actor John Krasinski. They became engaged in August 2009,[68] and married on 10 July 2010 in Como, Italy.[69] They have two daughters, Hazel (born 2014)[70][71][72] and Violet (born 2016).[73][74]

Blunt's brother-in-law is her The Devil Wears Prada co-star Stanley Tucci. In 2012, Tucci married Blunt's sister Felicity, who works as a literary agent. Blunt introduced the couple.[75][76] Her brother Sebastian is also an actor.[77]

In August 2015, Blunt became naturalized as an American citizen.[78] She took dual-citizenship in the United States, suggesting the status helped her tax and visa situation. She said she felt conflicted over abandoning her sole allegiance to the United Kingdom.[79]